Chapter 18 Imperial Commissioner Inspecting Grain Transport and Minister of the Imperial Canal
"Hengwu, there's no need to say more... Her Highness said she won't come here again, and where she goes is none of my business." Lu Lingyue was heartbroken and didn't want to hear anything related to Yuan Yan, so she stopped Hengwu from saying anything more.
Seeing this, Hengwu dared not offer any further advice. She hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back, and could only watch her young master and Prince Yue walk further and further away.
They were such a good couple when they got engaged, how did things turn out like this...?
*
Today's court session was somewhat different.
The atmosphere in the court was tense. Liu Qian, the Minister of Revenue, stepped forward to report: "Your Majesty, I have something to report. Several of the grain transport ships that were supposed to be heading to the Chuzhou granary were suddenly caught in a torrential rain and capsized in the river..."
"Although local officials have ordered people to do their best to salvage and salvage, the current is too strong and most of the grain on the boat has sunk to the bottom of the river and cannot be retrieved."
The supply of grain was a matter of national importance and could not be considered insignificant.
Upon hearing this, all the ministers present held their breath, knowing that His Majesty would surely be furious.
"Minister Liu, do you have the amount of grain lost by the commander?" Yuan Hao's face was grave.
"Well... Your Majesty, I have investigated and found that only about 70% of the grain delivered to the granaries has arrived in previous years..." Minister Liu said, his forehead already covered in fine sweat.
"Seventy percent? With so much grain being transported, how come the missing thirty percent went into the river?" Yuan Hao immediately sensed something fishy, his phoenix eyes instantly filled with anger as he coldly questioned him.
Minister Liu was indeed unable to answer, and could only kneel down to beg for forgiveness, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! I beg Your Majesty to give me a little more time so that the Ministry of Revenue can allocate grain to make amends."
"What's the use of transferring grain? What I'm asking is where all the missing grain went!" Yuan Hao wouldn't be easily fooled by these ministers. The sudden loss of 30% of the grain was definitely not a simple case of a ship capsizing; someone must have been up to something.
Today, she is determined to thoroughly investigate the matter of the grain tribute and expose all those who dare to embezzle it, making an example of them to deter others. Otherwise, such incidents will only increase and shake the foundation of the nation.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me..."
The officials of the Ministry of Revenue knelt on the ground, trembling with fear, not daring to utter a sound, and none of them dared to stand up and answer.
“In previous years there was also a shortfall in grain tribute, but the amount was not large. Never before has there been such a situation as this year, with a deficit of 30% that is not explained at all. The impact is significant.”
Yuan Hao's gaze was deep. "This matter must be investigated as soon as possible, and every single grain of rice missing must be reported truthfully!"
When the matter of inspecting grain was mentioned, it was known that the emperor's next step would definitely be to send trusted ministers to places like Chuzhou to audit the accounts.
After a moment's thought, Prince Qi Yuanjing stepped forward and said, "Your subject is willing to share the burden for Your Majesty and go to Chuzhou to investigate this matter."
The system was quite surprised upon hearing this. [Host, host, when you inquired about the grain transport, did you already foresee this situation?]
“No, that’s not it. I only heard about the delay in the grain transport when I first attended court, and then I never heard from anyone that the grain had arrived. So I realized something was wrong and ordered someone to inquire about it,” Yuan Yan replied.
"I never expected that something would actually happen after these few days."
"King Qi took the initiative to investigate the grain shipment, there must be something he can gain from it. Host, aren't you going to compete with him?" the system asked again.
"Don't worry, the Empress Mother most likely won't entrust this task to her," Yuan Yan reassured the system.
Why? The system was puzzled.
“Because Yuan Jing’s maternal grandmother, Grand Minister Sun, is the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, responsible for overseeing the policies of the Six Ministries, and has complex relationships with officials in the court. Given the Empress Dowager’s suspicious nature, she would not allow Yuan Jing to get involved in matters involving huge sums of money and grain,” Yuan Yan said.
The system understood: [I see...]
As expected, Yuan Hao did not accept the offer from the King of Qi, but instead turned his attention to Yuan Yan, who had been playing a background role in the court these days.
"King Yue, would you be willing to go to Chuzhou in my stead?" Yuan Hao asked, wanting to test Yuan Yan.
Yuan Yan was suddenly called upon by his mother, the Empress, and stepped forward. "Your subject is unworthy. Your mother has entrusted this important task to your subject, and your subject will do his utmost to live up to your expectations."
Just as Yuan Yan was about to take on the task, the Prince of Qi sent a minister to step forward. "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance and involves many parties. The Prince of Yue has no prior knowledge of the Grand Canal transport. If we send him to investigate, I'm afraid he will be unable to fulfill Your Majesty's request."
"It would be better to select someone else capable to investigate the matter of the grain transport."
These words were undoubtedly a veiled attack on Yuan Yan, suggesting he lacked practical experience and was unlikely to be up to such a heavy responsibility.
Faced with this opposition, Yuan Yan remained calm and showed no sign of resentment.
Instead, the emperor's face darkened. "My mind is made up. There is no need for further discussion, ministers."
"I have recently heard that there are significant shortages of grain in the granaries of Chuzhou and other places. Therefore, I have appointed the Prince of Yue as Imperial Commissioner to investigate the Grand Canal Transport. He is to immediately proceed to Chuzhou to conduct an investigation, and three hundred elite soldiers will be assigned as his guards. Together with the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner and officials from the Ministry of Revenue, he will thoroughly examine the income and expenditure of previous years and strictly audit the accounts. If any officials are found to be corrupt or have embezzled grain, they will be impeached immediately without exception!"
The officials chosen by the emperor all kowtowed and said, "Your subject receives the decree."
"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your great favor!" Upon receiving the title of Imperial Commissioner to Inspect the Grand Canal, Yuan Yan immediately knelt to express his gratitude.
Meanwhile, Yuan Jing, who failed to secure the job, had a completely different feeling.
"Congratulations, Second Princess."
In front of her mother and a group of ministers, she couldn't afford to lose her composure, so she forced a smile at Yuan Yan.
After returning to the Prince of Qi's residence, Yuan Jing finally poured out his dissatisfaction.
"I volunteered to oversee the inspection, but Mother Empress chose Yuan Yan instead. Could it be that Mother Empress intends to cultivate her?"
"Moreover, I have also received a share of the profits from those below. If Yuan Yan really finds out something, I'm afraid the Empress will punish me..."
"Your Highness need not worry. The Yue King's troops are all rough men who do not know anything about grain transport and storage. They are unlikely to be able to complete the task entrusted to them by His Majesty, let alone find out that Your Highness was involved in it."
"If the Prince of Yue botches the grain transport project this time, His Majesty will probably never dare to entrust important matters to him again... This should be a good thing for His Highness," the advisor analyzed.
Upon hearing this, the Third Princess Yuan Xiao chimed in from the side.
"Eldest sister, if you ask me, you are just too kind."
“It’s true that Yuan Yan got the job, so we just need to find a way to keep an eye on her and prevent her from getting it done. If Yuan Yan’s trip goes smoothly, it wouldn’t hurt to create some difficulties for her.” Yuan Xiao already had a plan in mind.
Why was she forbidden from attending court and losing her chance to participate in politics because Yuan Yan was punished? Meanwhile, after Yuan Yan publicly snatched the bride, he not only escaped punishment but was also highly valued by the Empress Dowager and given the important task of inspecting grain supplies.
From childhood, Yuan Xiao harbored a deep affection for Yuan Yan because of his mother's favor towards the Imperial Noble Minister and Yuan Yan.
During this period of time, she stayed at home instead of attending court. Instead of reflecting on herself, she hated Yuan Yan even more and felt that her mother had been biased.
A note from the author:
Because women are considered the foundation of a family, the terms "grandmother" and "maternal grandmother" are reversed in this world.
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